Fables panel! Moderated by Bill Willingham, with Vertigo group editor Shelly Bond, along with Eisner-winner Todd Klein, Steve Leialoha, novelist Chris Robertson, Matt Sturges from Jack of Fables and House of Mystery, James Jean, and Mark Buckingham.

Matt is signing exclusively with DC Comics.

Coming out next year, Mark is having a huge book done on him with Fables stuff in it by a UK publisher.

Chris is going to be writing a mini-series spinoff of Fables, called Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love. It'll be Secret Service meets Sex and the City. It'll answer the question of what happened to Cinderella's fairy godmother.

There's a Fables novel coming out by Bill Willingham illustrated by Steve Leialoha about Peter Piper and his older brother Max Piper, who grows up to be the Pied Piper.

Early next year, a Fables/Jack of Fables crossover is coming out called The Literals; it runs parallel to Jack and Fables and has a three-issue miniseries that ties them both together.

Question time!

Many of the best issues of Fables revolve around missions, where do those ideas come from? Bill: I don't have any background, but my mom, during the second World War, was a member of the Manhattan project, so I think some of that was passed along.

I heard a rumor that Fables is ending...? Bill: Everyone hears this rumor because of the types of series that Vertigo does, but no, no Fables isn't ending. After 75 it sort of begins again, but it's not ending. There is no end in sight for Fables.

Is there going to be some American tall tale stuff coming in? Bill: I loved the one Jack tall tales Civil War story. There have been some that've been forgotten about that we're bringing back; Little Lindsey Lariat, Captain Scurvy, a camel named Omar, the list goes on and on, so they're in upcoming issues in Jack of Fables.

Which character from Fables is you? Bill: Old King Cole? James: Little Boy Blue, we both play trumpet. Bart: I've always had an affinity with Fly. Matt: Gary, pretty much. Chris: Flying drunk monkey? Steve: Flying drunk monkey! Todd: Pinnochio

Bill, you started out as a penciler, will you pencil an issue of Fables? Bill: Well, if I started now... Do we have an artist locked in for Fables #1,000 yet?

Did the three blind mice ever get some? Matt: With other mice, or each other? *laughs* I guess, sure, in Smalltown.

Is there any chance that urban legends or horror pieces will ever be included? Bill: Possibly? An issue's coming up that might answer your question.

Fables seems to cover a lot of broad areas as far as characters and fandoms go, was that an original plan for it to apply to so many people's interests? Bill: Well, usually when we start stories where the audience doesn't really factor into it so much; you don't think who you'd like to see in your audience besides the big answer, which is all of them.

Is a Fables movie on the table at all? Bill: There's always something underway along those routes, it's one of the reason DC tried to do Fables to begin with, so there's movement, but it's not really going anywhere.

Fables merchandise? Bill: Not really, unfortunately, or not that we know about. It sounds great, but it's not in our works.

Are any of the evil stepsisters or hags or anyone coming back? Matt: None on tap right now, but that doesn't mean we can't get some.

What's your favorite letter and why? Todd: S, because every time I use it, it comes out different, and I can use it differently all the time.

Last year the character to watch was Babe; who's the character to watch this year? Bill: Oh, it's always going to be Babe.

The more well-known Fables are more resilient in Fabletown; does that rule apply in the Homelands? Bill: Yes.

Will James ever do another interior story? Bill: He has a standing offer to do a story whenever he wants, so... Jean: Well, maybe one day I'll have done enough covers that you can mix and match...?